Archives:
Levitation: Physics and Psychology in the Service of Deception
Author/Illustrator: Jim Ottaviani and Janine Johnston Publisher: G.T. Labs Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8 Subject: Science Genre: Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Nonfiction Synopsis: Hypnotic gestures. Fancy clothes. Lovely assistants. These things may make the magician, but science makes the magic. Levitation tells the amazing true story of the most dazzling illusion ever performed on stage, and features a cast of characters that seems too good to be true — The Scientist: John Neville Maskelyne, the oh-so-proper British magician and the trick’s inventor. The American: Harry Kellar couldn’t buy the illusion, so he found another way to get it. The Inventor: Guy Jarrett, the […] Read More
Inventions and Discovery series
Author/Illustrator: Heather Adamson, Jameson Anderson, Jennifer Fandel, Andrea Gianopoulos, Jessica Gunderson, Katherine Krohn, Donald B. Lemke, Connie Colwell Miller, Ellen S. Niz, Xavier W. Niz, Michael O’Hearn, Kay Melchisedech Olson, Nathan Olson, Trina Robbins, David Seidman, and Scott R. Welvaert Publisher: Capstone Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5 Subject: Science Genre: Biography/Autobiography Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Teaching Comics Synopsis: World-changing events unfold before your eyes in these amazing tales of inventions and discovery. Inventors, scientists, and businesspeople shape our world through their will and determination. See their captivating stories come to life with vivid illustrations and easy-to-read text. An additional information section provides key facts […] Read More
Building Blocks of Mathematics
Author/Illustrator: Joseph Midthun and Sam Hiti Publisher: World Book Grade levels: K-1, 2-3, 4-5 Subject: Math Genre: Humor, How To Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Teaching Comics Synopsis: Building Blocks of Mathematics is a great new series of mathematics books from World Book! Quirky characters drawn in exciting comic-book style introduce and demonstrate critical basic mathematics concepts in this new six-volume series books. Story problems help to develop students’ conceptual understanding of the mathematical operations and teach them techniques for solving real-life math problems. Designed in collaboration with elementary mathematics education experts, this series is appropriate for kids who are just learning these concepts and […] Read More
At the Amusement Park
Author/Illustrator: Paul Yoon, Lorence Na Publisher: Ykids Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Subject: Science Special attractions: Child lead characters Synopsis: Dreamland, the biggest amusement park to open in town, is throwing a science tournament for elementary students across the country. Every kid in school is talking about the tournament and Daniel, Lucy, Christine and Sam decides to sign up. But things do not go as expected. The questions in the tournament are linked to the rides in Dreamland and the friends face strong competition form all round. Publisher’s book page
A Journey into the Human Body
Author/Illustrator: Soo Oh, Seok Yun, Kakao Han Publisher: Ykids Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Subject: Science Special attractions: Teen lead characters Titles in this series: A Journey into the Human Body: One quiet night in the Abracadabra School of Magic, two senior student wizards are heard running towards the junior quarters in the dormitory. The dean has fallen sick and the principal has summoned three junior student wizards, who are always in some sort of mischief, to his office. The principal told the junior wizards that random magic coursing through the school has created a little monster who is now wreaking havoc […] Read More
Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space
Author/Illustrator: Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space Publisher: Flying Eye Books Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8 Subject: Science Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Anthropomorphic Characters Synopsis: Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space will tell you everything you need to know about our planet, our solar system, our galaxy and the universe that there could be to know. Our clever little cat has made sure of that, he’s a fastidious little feline! Dr. Astro explores topics such as gravity, extraterrestrial life and time with fun facts and fascinating insights that will take you and your children on a journey to the very frontiers of Space! Kirkus […] Read More
Max Axiom series
Author/Illustrator: Emily Sohn and Agnieszka Biskup, Andrea Gianopoulos, Christopher L. Harbo , Amber J Keyser, Katherine Krohn, Donald B. Lemke, and Liam O’Donnell Publisher: Capstone Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5 Subject: Science Genre: Superhero Special Attractions: Nonfiction, Multicultural Lead Characters Synopsis: You’ve never had a science teacher like this! Max Axiom is a super-cool super-scientist. Using powers he acquired in a freak accident, Max demonstrates and explains science in ways never before seen in the classroom. Whether shrinking down to the size of an ant or riding on a sound wave, Max can do whatever it takes to make science super cool and […] Read More
Vamplets series
Author/Illustrator: Gayle Middleton, Dave Dwonch, & Amanda Coronado Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment Grade levels: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Fantasy, Horror Special Attractions: Adaptation, Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Teenager Destiny Harper is at a crossroad in her life. Graduation is coming, and she has zero prospects for the future. Answering an ad for ‘The Night Care Nursery’ seems like a great idea, until she is magically transported to Gloomvania, where dark creatures lurk the streets, and the world is being mysteriously overrun by baby vampyres called Vamplets! Can Destiny serve her term as Governess of ‘The Nightmare Nursery’ and return home? […] Read More
Three Thieves series
Author/Illustrator: Scott Chantler Publisher: Kids Can Press Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8 Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Special Attractions: Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: As an acrobat in a traveling circus, 14-year-old orphan Dessa Redd flies through the air with ease. Still, she is weighed down by troubling memories. But when her ragtag circus troupe pulls into the city of Kingsbridge, Dessa feels a tickle of hope. Maybe here in the royal city she will finally find her twin brother — or the mysterious man who snatched him away when they were just children. Meanwhile, Topper, the circus juggler, recruits Dessa and the circus strongman, Fisk, for the job […] Read More
Hilda and the Midnight Giant
Author/Illustrator: Luke Pearson Publisher: Nobrow Grade levels: 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology and Folktales Special Attractions: Female Lead Characters, Teen Lead Characters Synopsis: Hilda finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis. Her mother, an architect, has been offered a prestigious position in the bustling metropolis that she would find hard to reject. Besides, the tiny elven creatures making a daily habit of bombarding them with threats isn’t making Hilda’s case any better. As she seeks ways to stall her mother’s decision, Hilda rushes to befriend the […] Read More